World of Dictators

Nationalism is on the rise Nationalism: national interests and national unity is most important After WWI, the treaty of Versailles failed to sustain peace and instead threw much of Europe into chaos Great Depression hit the entire world, not just US This allowed powerful leaders to take power

Totalitarian Totalitarian Government- government which maintains complete control over its citizens, generally stripping them of their rights and suppressing all opposition.

Russia Following WWI, Russia went through civil war. Communism took hold under Vladimir Lenin. Once Lenin died in 1924, Joseph Stalin took control. Lenin Stalin

New Soviet Union Soviet Union= Communist Russia Joseph Stalin has his form of New Deal = (3) 5 year plans= these focused on building up industry under complete government control. To do all this, he “purged” all his enemies (or those he didn’t like)= 8 – 13 MILLION dead.

Italy Had fought in WWI and veterans returned at odds with the political leaders. Benito Mussolini, a former socialist took power promising to stop political leaders who were destroying Italy.

Italy Mussolini instituted a Fascist regime Fascism: political movement that consists of strong, centralized government headed by a powerful dictator. il Duce as Mussolini called himself became the totalitarian ruler of Italy controlling every aspect of life.

Germany Germany was suffering from ill affects of the Treaty of Versaillies. Poor economy and poor conditions led the German people to seek out new leadership A former soldier and leader or fuhrer of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party or Nazi Party, Adolf Hitler appealed to many Germans

Germany Hilter espoused his belief in Nazism or political philosophy based on extreme nationalism, racism, and militaristic expansionism. Hitler wanted an Empire for Germanic people.

Japan Japanese military leaders believed that Japan had out grown their borders. Militarist leaders or those who believed in expanding the military in order to expand their territory took control as they successfully invaded Manchuria area of China.

The Axis Together these four leaders formed the Axis powers all with Adolf Hitler’s newly powerful Germany. The primary powers of the Axis was Germany and Italy while the Soviet Union and Japan joined later.